Amsterdam Light Festival 2025-2026
The Amsterdam Light Festival is just around the corner and will once again transform the city into a dazzling, colourful and magical place. This year promises to be more impressive than ever before. With a captivating collection of light artworks and installations, Amsterdam’s canals, streets and buildings will be illuminated and brought to life.
In recent years, the annual spectacle has established itself as a global beacon for creative minds and artists. They use light as their medium to tell stories and evoke emotions. Each year, the festival brings a fresh wave of innovative artworks that amaze and inspire visitors from all over the world.
An illuminated open-air museum
Amsterdam will be transformed into an open-air museum during the festival season. Light artists and designers from all over the world present their imagination and their works to the public. View the enchanting canals from a boat or simply stroll through the streets to admire the breathtaking installations. The festival offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages!
From November 27, 2025 to January 18, 2026 you have the option to rent a historic boat from us to view the light artworks along the route.
Edition 14 takes you into a world of legacy
Edition 14 takes you into a world of legacy, of what we pass on, preserve and bring back to life.
Legacy is the thread that connects generations: from past to future, from memory to renewal. What we create, what we share and what we leave behind is part of a greater whole that transcends us. Through our actions, our stories and our art, we contribute to a continuous process of meaning and connection.
Light plays a special role in this. It is a symbol of energy, insight and life. We use light to commemorate, to celebrate and to cherish hope. A ray of light reveals what would otherwise remain hidden — an echo of who we were and a promise of who we can still become.
Artists are invited to explore the many faces of legacy: personal, cultural and collective traces that remain even as their origins fade. Like a light passed from hand to hand, legacy lives on in what we share with each other.
This edition aims to connect, move and inspire the public with light art that reflects the layers of legacy — from memory and identity to change and renewal.
For years, the festival has been a bright spot in the dark days, and with each edition, we add a new chapter to our shared heritage of light.
This period is extremely busy for us. We therefore recommend checking availability in good time to avoid disappointment.
Theme Amsterdam Light Festival 2025-2026: ‘Legacy’
Practical information During the festival, twenty light sculptures will be placed along and on the canals. These light works of art can be viewed by boat every evening from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Festival period Edition #14 will take place from Thursday, November 27, 2025 to Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Theme With the theme ‘Rituals’, the artists try to stimulate the imagination. Let yourself be carried away past beautiful light creations and imaginative sculptures.
Daily opening hours The light artworks are on every day from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, on New Year’s Eve at 8:00 PM. Read all about the artworks, artists, route and activities at: www.amsterdamlightfestival.com< /p>
Amsterdam Light Festival Highlights 2019 to 2024
Affordable Amsterdam Light Festival packages on the water
ALF | Cozy Cheese fondue
Tables are set with pans full of melted cheese and surrounded by fresh vegetables, crusty sandwiches, and an assortment of tasty charcuterie.
From € 79,50 p.p.
ALF | American Christmas
A real American Christmas Dinner in your own “Ugly” Christmas sweater
From €97.50 p.p.
ALF | Chef’s special Walking dinner
Chef on board freshly prepares eight courses for you
From €115 p.p.
Any questions or special wishes?
Rederij Mokum is a young company with original ideas for boat trips. Contact us at 020 210 15 45 or email info@rederijmokum.nl .
Why Rederij Mokum
- There is no better way to see the festival than by boat.
- Our heated and comfortable boats provide a comfortable place to admire the Light Festival.
- As an official partner of the festivalwe can offer an all-inclusive package with always a tailor-made quote for a competitive price.
- You can have a guide on board for a small surcharge.
- We sail with respect for the environment.
- Our ships are suitable for all ages! We have children’s life jackets on board.
- Did you know that when the weather is nice we can also sail with an open hood in winter?
- Our ships are equipped with dual heating systems. Always nice and warm, no matter how hard it freezes.
For a first impression, take a look at the time lapse that we made.< /p>
Request information
Rederij Mokum is a young company with original ideas for boat trips. Our packages are complete and affordable. Ask your question and we will think along with you. Would you like to know more about our boats or packages? Do you have questions about availability and prices, or would you like to request a (no-obligation) quote? Complete the request form without obligation and we will respond to your question within 24 hours.
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History Amsterdam Light Festival
The festival was first held in 2011. The public-private partnership is housed in a foundation. The festival is characterized by the many light works by artists from home and abroad, which are displayed in public. The works are located along a sailing route called Water Colors and a walking route called Illuminade. The artworks are created specifically for the Amsterdam Light Festival. Source Wikipedia
Initiators Horbach and Buchel
Now that the twelfth edition is just around the corner, the question arises as to how this successful festival ever came about. Success has many fathers. That’s why we like to put the real founding fathers in the spotlight.
The roots date back to 2009. Vincent Horbach and Henk Jan Buchel are inspired by the Winterfest in Fort Lauderdale in Florida. A merry Christmas boat parade in the warm waters around Florida. The Amsterdam canals are not exactly busy in winter. That is why a nice festival, such as in Florida, is very welcome in Amsterdam.
Horbach and Buchel took the initiative for the first Christmas Canal Parade in 2009. In other words, a parade of illuminated boats through the city. The gracefully, artistically illuminated tour of approximately 20 ships sails from the Westerdok over the Prinsengracht to the Oosterdok. The decor is fantastic that first year! The city is completely white with snow. It’s Christmas Eve and the bridges are full of people.
In 2010, Felix Guttman, owner of Canal Company, was brought in. The name is changed to Winter Magic Amsterdam. From that moment on, the focus will be on artistic light art. Well-known artists (from various disciplines) such as Gilian Schrofer, Aziz Bekkaoui and Eric Staller help make the Christmas Canal Parade a success. Along the route and from the boats, numerous choirs sing Christmas Carols and well-known Christmas songs.
In 2011, during the height of the crisis, it was decided not to go ahead with the festival. That year it was also decided to change the name and bundle the winter activities under the name Amsterdam Light Festival. The attention is shifted from entertainment to light art along the quay.
2012 was the start of this amazing light spectacle as we know it today.